Semiautomatic bobbin changer

ABSTRACT

Bobbin changer mechanism having a bobbin holder which frictionally engages a plurality of bobbins and having a bobbinswitching mechanism which provides dampening and sliding coupling between the bobbin changer and its support.

United States Patent lnventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority SEMIAUTOMATIC BOBBIN CHANGER 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

9/1959 Foller et al...,. 11/1963 Smith 10/1966 Carlson et al.....

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1967 Gerhardt et a1 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1965 France 242/18(A) 242/18(A) 242/18(A) 242/18(A) ABSTRACT: Bobbin changer mechanism having a bobbin U.S. Cl 242/18 holder which frictionally engages a plurality of bobbins and Int. Cl B65h 54/02 having a bobbin-switching mechanism which provides dam- Field of Search 242/18(A), pening and sliding coupling between the bobbin changer and 18,25(A) its support 2O 21 12 1o 1 l I u I 51 41 e 4e 4 s2 4 17777 Z7 Z6 Z2 Z4 imvn Li I m 2 PATENTEUFEB 2|91| 3559.901

SHEET 2 0F 2 n w aux? m I NVEN'TO MAX Sawyer Hs'mur F/ Ire/Q SEMIAUTOMATIC BOBBIN CHANGER This invention relates to bobbin changers and in particular to continuously working bobbin changers for thread or yarn windup machines.

A variety of bobbin changers for thread and yarn windup machines are known in the art, and in some prior embodiments, the changer includes a bobbin rake or rotatable table having pins extending either horizontally or vertically for supporting the individual bobbins. In other embodiments, the bobbins to be wound are supported by one or a plurality of rotatable bearing devices, the position of the bearing devices being rotatable by an angle of 180, 120 or less by means of a shaft. In such devices the desired positioning is effected either by means of a manually actuated lever or a magnetically actuated positioning motor. In the latter case, the positioning motor usually receives its positioning pulses from a sensing means which is responsive to the change in circumference or weight of the wound bobbin; the change in position is usually carried out by transmitting the positional motor output through a multimember lever system to a rotating shaft. Usually, the last member of the lever system finally transmits the change to the shaft by means of an eccentric head which grips the shaft of the bearing device by means of teeth or a cam.

The above-described embodiments have many recognized disadvantages. Specifically, it has been found that the frictional losses caused by the known lever system are very high; also, the placing of the bobbins in a predetermined position to effect the bobbin exchange can not be carried out exactly and in the most favorable moment because of the throw of the lever system. Moreover, these bobbin changers tend to tilt in a direction following the high rotational moment of the wound bobbin; the latter also tends to tear the thread off the wound bobbin, and its takeup by the empty bobbin. Additionally, the changing of bobbins with the above-mentioned known devices is no more possible with respect to high yarn delivery speeds required in the industry nowadays of up to 500 meters per minute and more as well as to a continuous yarn delivery without the use of auxiliary devices for seizing the yarn, such as e.g. suction devices. Auxiliary devices of this kind, however, call for more space for the whole spool-changing device and increase the cost of the same.

The present invention eliminates the disadvantages mentioned above and simplifies the handling of a bobbin changer so as to decrease its handling time and thus increase productron.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bobbin changer mechanism comprising support means, bobbin drive means and an arm which is movable with respect to the support means. A bobbin holder, including at least a first, second and third frictionally engaged bobbins, is fastened to a rotatable shaft which is secured by the arm; the bobbin holder is positioned and arranged so that the first bobbin engages the bobbin drive means and the second bobbin engages the support means. A switching mechanism cooperable with the arm and the rotatable shaft is provided to establish dampening and clutching coupling therebetween and to rotate said shaft and bolder so that the second bobbin engages the driving means and the third bobbin engages the support means whereby a wound bobbin is changed and replaced with an empty bobbin.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the switching mechanism includes outer discs retained by a coupling flange secured to the arm and inner discs retained by a member secured to the shaft. During switching operation, the outer and inner rings are forced in frictional contact and as a result provide clutching engagement therebetween. Thus, by the use of such mechanism, the bobbin changer does not overshoot its takeup position during the changing operation and provides a smooth bobbin change that allows exact thread exchange between the full and empty bobbin.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, bobbin-gripping members are "provided on the inner surfaces of the bobbin changer for elastically receiving and frictionally holding via a spring box mechanism the first, second and third bobbins.

There has been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the bobbin changer of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the elastic bearing of the receiving plate utilized in the bobbin changer of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a bobbin changer mechanism 10 including a generally looped bobbin arm 11 which is fixed to a U-shaped holder 12 by means of adjustable screws l4, l5, 16. The holder 12 is solidly supported by a horizontal shaft 17 fixed to a base plate 19 by means of standing bearings 20 and 21 and accordingly is free to pivot about the axis of the shaft 17 such that the movement planes of the two legs of the bobbin arm 11 are in parallel relationship with each other. A shaft 22 supported by bearings 24 and 25 is placed between the legs of the arm 11 and acts to rotate two star plates 26 and 27 by means of a slot and key arrangement 29 providing a solid connection with a flange body 30 which is fixedly mounted to the star plates 26 and 27.

As shown in FIG. 2, bobbin-gripping members 31 and 32 are provided opposite each other at each of the three arms 34, 35 and 36 of the star plates 26 and 27 and at equal radial distances from the axial line of the rotating shaft.

The bobbin-gripping member 32, shaped to form a receiving plate, rotates about a shaft extending into the ball bearing 37 fixed at its neck and into a bore 39 in the front face of the opposite bearing 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the bobbin-gripping member 31 rotates about a shaft 41 extending into the ball bearing 42 which is also fixed at its neck and into the bottom of the spring box 44 via bore 45. A pressing or biasing spring 46 is provided in the cylindrical bore 48 of the spring box 44 and is supported at one end by the rear wall 49 of bore 48 and at the other end by a ball 50 serving as a counterbearing resting at the center of the housing 51 of the spring box 44. The axial shift of the spring box 44 and, therefore, of the bobbin-gripping member 31, is effected by means of a lever 52 guided by a groove 54 in the housing 51 and secured in the spring box 44 by means of a screw.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the rotation of the shaft 22 is effected by means of the driving mechanism 55 in the shape of a driving head consisting of a driving hub 56 actuated by means of lever 57, a coupling flange 59 fixed by screws 60 on the bobbin arm 11 and rotatably connected with the hub by means of the thread 61. A seizing member 62 is lead in a bore 64 of the hub 56 and is held under pressure by means of the spring 65 and a counter bearing screw 66. The seizing member 62 engages a tooth 67 of the cam-shaped driving piece 68 which is fixed to the rotating shaft 22 by means of both the key 69 and the groove 70 so that it can be axially moved on the shaft 22. A stop device comprising elements 7] and 72 is pro vided to limit the rotating angle of the hub56 The driving mechanism 55 provides dampening and sliding or clutching coupling between the star plates 26 and 27 and the arm 11 In the initial phase of the switching process corresponding to the winding phase during which the package at tains its maximum size. the dining mechanism 55 operates as a dampening coupling through the action of an adjusting ring 74 which is rotatably fixed in the hub 56 by means ol a thread 75. the adjusting ring 74 serves to set the desired tension of the mentioned coupling and is solidly connected with the hub 56 after having been set by means of a safety screw 76 During the switching process the hub 56 is axially moved in the direction of the coupling flange 59 by means of the thread 61 which connects the hub 56 with the flange 59. whereby an axial movement is translated from the adjusting ring 74 to the driving piece 68 and to the pressure ring 77 so as to providea compression effect on the outer disc 79 ad acent disc springs 81 and inner disc 80 adjacent to the pressurering 77 by way of increasing the reaction force of disc-springs 81 An element 82 with three grooves serves as guiding means for the disc while the three grooves of flange 59 act in the same way on the disc 79.

in operation. in the rotating phase, the seizing member 62 remains in engagement with one of the teeth 67 of the driving piece 68; and the hub 56. adjusting ring 74. dr ving piece 68 and pressure ring 77 shift axially m the direction towards the discs 79 and 80 and thus create an increasing coupling force on the disc-springs 81 as the switching progresses. This forceis so strong that when the empty bobbin 84 is vertically situated under the rotating shaft. the bobbin changer cannot switch forward into the switching direction without operating the lever 57 This means. the dampening and sliding coupling will act from the moment the full package leaves the driving roller as a sliding coupling only and will slide until the empty bobbin reaches the driving roller. During the switching process an creasing coupling effect (as described more exactly heretofore) is established between the arm 11 and the star plates engaging the flange body 30, the shaft 22. the grooved element 82, the discs 79 and 80 and the grooved flange 59 as if the lever 57 were in solid connection with the star plates when switching in the changing direction. As soon as the empty bobbin 84 is in engagement with a driving roller 85. the coupling is disengaged by means of the switching lever 57. As shown in FIG 2. a supporting device 86 is provided beneath the bobbin changer which operates in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment. this support is positioned so that the full bobbin 87 and the empty bobbin 84 may be removed with convenience by the operator of the bobbin mechanism.

As the switching mechanism rotates. the full bobbin 87 is lifted up from the driving roller 85 but continues to rotate at approximately the same speed of the roller due to its inertia and thus continues to take up yarn from the takeup mechanism (not shown). This movement also causes the thread to leave the thread guide of the takeup mechanism and the empty bobbin 84 to rotate toward the yarn path along support 86. As a result. the empty bobbin 84 contacts the yarn and brings it back to the driving roller 85 where the yarn is automatically repositioned in the thread guide The empty bobbin 84. which. during the changing procedure. rolls over the support 86 in direction of the driving roller 85. engages the driving roller 85 and starts to rotate at the roller speed while the full bobbin 87 continues to take up the yarn but at a slightly different speed. resulting from the missing drive. between the full and empty bobbin. As a result of this speed difference. a loop is formed in the yarn quickly wrapping itself around the empty bobbin 84 causing a breakage in the thread leading to the full bobbin 87 due to the abrupt change in direction of the thread previously being wound on the full package as soon as the thread is taken up by the empty bobbin.

It should be appreciated from the above that the star plates 26 and 27 may assume other configurationsfthan thethreearm embodiment described above; for example round or square plates may be used. Additionally. the actuation of the driving mechanism 55 as well as the spring box lever 52 can be carried out by a fully automatic control device receiving its control signals in a known manner from the weight or circumference of the full bobbin or in relation to the time of thread takeup in the bobbin Additionally it should be appreciated that the bobbin changer of the present invention may be utilized for winding a bobbin with any material.

From the foregoing-description, it will be seen that there is provided a novel bobbin changer mechanism including a bobbin holder which fri ctionally engagesa plurality of bobbins, and having a bobbin-switching mechanism which provides dampening and sliding coupling between the bobbin changer and its support.

We claim 1 A bobbin changer mechanism comprising support means, bobbin drive means, an arm movable with respect to said support member, a rotatable shaft secured to said arm, a bobbin holder on said shaft including means for gripping at least first, second and third frictionally engaged bobbins, said holder being rotatable with said shaft and arranged so that said first j bobbin engages said support means, switching means between said arm member and said shaft to provide dampening and sliding coupling therebetween and for rotating said shaft and holder so that said second bobbin engages said support means whereby a wound bobbin is removed from said driving means and replaced with an empty bobbin.

2 The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bobbin holder includes two star plates fixedly connected .by a flange body. i

3. The bobbin mechanism of claim 2 wherein said flange body is fixed to the rotating shaft. I

4. The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bobbin holder includes bobbin gripping members supported by the inner surfaces thereof for elastically receiving and frictionally holding said bobbins.

5 The bobbin mechanism of claim 4 wherein a spring box mechanism is provided to bias said gripping members.

6. The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said switching mechanism includes outer discs cooperable with said arm and inner discs cooperable with said shaft. said outer and inner discs providing the said dampening and sliding coupling.

7 The bobbin mechanism of claim 6 wherein said outer discs are retained by a grooved coupling flange secured to said arm and said inner discsare retained by a grooved element secured to said shaft. L

8. The bobbin mechanism of claim 7 wherein a tooth member is secured to said shaft by a spring means and is axially shiftable to increase said dampening coupling.

9. The bobbin mechanism of claim 8 wherein a switching lever is provided to rotatably actuate said tooth member.

10. The bobbin mechanism of claim 9 wherein a hub is rotatably threaded to said coupling flange.

11. A bobbin chaiiger mechanism comprising support means. bobbin drive means. an arm movable with respect to said support member, a rotatable shaft secured to said arm, a bobbin holder includingtvvo star plates fixedly connected by a flange body and secured to said shaft and further including a plurality of bobbin-gripping members supported by said star plates for elastically receiving and frictionally holding at least first. second and third bobbins, said bobbin holder being rotatable with said shaft and arranged so that said first bobbin engages said bobbin drive means and said second bobbin engages said support means. switching means includingouter discs secured with said arm and inner discs secured with said shaft for providing dampening and sliding coupling between said arm and shaft and for rotating said shaft and holder so that said second bobbin engages said driving means and said third bobbin engages said support means whereby a wound bobbin is removed from said driving means and replaced with an empty bobbin. I

P040 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. 901 I Dated February 2, 1971 Inventor) Max Schnetzer and Helmut Ritter It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 25, after the word "engages" insert -said bobbin drive means and said second bobbin engag Column 4, line 28, after "engages" insert said driving means and said third bobbin engages-- Signed and sealed this 29th day of February 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A bobbin changer mechanism comprising support means, bobbin drive means, an arm movable with respect to said support member, a rotatable shaft secured to said arm, a bobbin holder on said shaft including means for gripping at least first, second and third frictionally engaged bobbins, said holder being rotatable with said shaft and arranged so that said first bobbin engages said support means, switching means between said arm member and said shaft to provide dampening and sliding coupling therebetween and for rotating said shaft and holder so that said second bobbin engages said support means whereby a wound bobbin is removed from said driving means and replaced with an empty bobbin.
 2. The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bobbin holder includes two star plates fixedly connected by a flange body.
 3. The bobbin mechanism of claim 2 wherein said flange body is fixed to the rotating shaft.
 4. The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bobbin holder includes bobbin gripping members supported by the inner surfaces thereof for elastically receiving and frictionally holding said bobbins.
 5. The bobbin mechanism of claim 4 wherein a spring box mechanism is provided to bias said gripping members.
 6. The bobbin mechanism of claim 1 wherein said switching mechanism includes outer discs cooperable with said arm and inner discs cooperable with said shaft, said outer and inner discs providing the said dampening and sliding coupling.
 7. The bobbin mechanism of claim 6 wherein said outer discs are retained by a grooved coupling flange secured to said arm and said inner discs are retained by a grooved element secured to said shaft.
 8. The bobbin mechanism of claim 7 wherein a tooth member is secured to said shaft by a spring means and is axially shiftable to increase sAid dampening coupling.
 9. The bobbin mechanism of claim 8 wherein a switching lever is provided to rotatably actuate said tooth member.
 10. The bobbin mechanism of claim 9 wherein a hub is rotatably threaded to said coupling flange.
 11. A bobbin changer mechanism comprising support means, bobbin drive means, an arm movable with respect to said support member, a rotatable shaft secured to said arm, a bobbin holder including two star plates fixedly connected by a flange body and secured to said shaft and further including a plurality of bobbin-gripping members supported by said star plates for elastically receiving and frictionally holding at least first, second and third bobbins, said bobbin holder being rotatable with said shaft and arranged so that said first bobbin engages said bobbin drive means and said second bobbin engages said support means, switching means including outer discs secured with said arm and inner discs secured with said shaft for providing dampening and sliding coupling between said arm and shaft and for rotating said shaft and holder so that said second bobbin engages said driving means and said third bobbin engages said support means whereby a wound bobbin is removed from said driving means and replaced with an empty bobbin. 